educationand watch their grow Give children the

Give children
the best in education and watch their
potential
grow
EDUCATION INITIATIVE 2007
MISSION
The mission of Ariel Education Initiative is to
advance educational opportunities in underserved
areas through innovative programming that
integrates academic excellence, family involvement
and community service.
Investing in education yields extraordinary results
DEAR FRIENDS,
The concept of investing extends beyond the curbs of Wall Street. At the Ariel Education Initiative, we believe there
Composite: Percentage of students who
meet or exceed state standards
is no greater investment than educating a child. The Initiative continues to create educational excellence at the Ariel
Ariel
District
2002
46.8
41.1
2003
50.6
43.0
2004
55.7
47.0
2005
60.4
47.3
investment curriculum is continually evolving. As such, we have created unique partnerships with the Illinois Council
2006
76.1
61.8
on Economic Education (ICEE) and the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) to help bring
2007
81.5
64.1
Community Academy. In June, the Academy graduated 47 students—the largest eighth grade in the Academy’s history.
In total, almost 70 percent of all ACA graduates are now attending selective enrollment high schools. In addition, the
Academy continues to outperform all schools in its district on the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT). And for
the first time ever, the Ariel Community Academy ranked in the top 50 of all Chicago neighborhood middle schools
by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Financial literacy remains a core part of our Initiative. With the help of AEI staff and friends, our unique saving and
the stock market into the classroom. Students in every grade learn economic concepts from needs and wants to
compound interest.
Working together, we hope to continue our progress and create a national model of public/private partnership for schools
nationwide. We invite you to take a closer look at our efforts and the community that makes the Ariel Education Initiative
such a success.
Sincerely,
John W. Rogers, Jr.
Matthew Yale
Chairman & CEO
Vice President, Public Affairs
ARIEL COMMUNITY ACADEMY
A unique curriculum and a model school
THE ACADEMY
Since 1996, Ariel Education Initiative has supported the
Ariel Community Academy, a small public school located
on the south side of Chicago. The model of the Academy
is rooted in the understanding that family and community
are vital ingredients in the social, physical, emotional and
educational well-being of children. By doing so, students
learn not only the importance of education, but also the
value of being a part of a community.
With classes from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade,
the Academy teaches the required public school curriculum with a unique focus on investment education. The
Academy is dedicated to providing low-income communities
with the opportunity to expand both educational and
financial literacy.
LETTER FROM
THE PRINCIPAL
This year, the Academy seeks to emphasize individualization. By strengthening independence, students
can advance their learning capabilities beyond the
classroom, giving them a strong foundation for
what lies ahead. To do this, the staff works closely
with parents and students to provide an exceptional
environment that personalizes education.
VALUES, CHARACTER, LEADERSHIP
Global awareness
The curriculum at Ariel Community Academy is successful
The Academy prepares students to understand and
Dr. Judith Shelton, our curriculum director, is
in offering every student a unique environment with a
participate in an interconnected and global world. As part
successful in creating curriculum models that focus on
personalized education and ample resources targeted to
of the investment curriculum, students study commerce,
meeting each child’s specific needs. The following are
trade and the growth of business around the world. The
ways the Academy improves upon this approach.
Illinois Council of Economic Education works with the
Academy on this venture.
Class size
improving the learning process for students. She says,
“At the core of our work is the collaboration of teachers
who design curriculum in unique and challenging
ways. We always ask ourselves: Did this accomplish
The Academy continues to organize instruction around
High-school coursework
the goals we set forth? How can we improve learning
smaller class sizes with no more than 15–17 students.
Ariel Community Academy provides exceptional students
for our students? What will our students know and be
Ariel is one of the first public schools to design intimate
the opportunity to begin high-school-level coursework while
able to do because of this curriculum effort? How will
instructional groups for what would normally be a class
still at Ariel. Since these courses are designed to integrate
students be able to demonstrate that improvement?”
size of 25. This permits teachers to individualize instruc-
high-school-level thinking, we include a focus on creativity
This focus on individualization is important to give
tion, know the students extremely well and proceed at a
and a greater emphasis on writing for publication. Each of
students the confidence they need to learn and grow.
faster pace.
these models integrates the investment concepts that lie at
the core of our teaching philosophy.
With every year come exciting, new challenges
and improvements. As a school and community,
the Academy looks forward to what lies ahead.
Lennette Coleman
Principal
THE INVESTMENT CURRICULUM
We want to make the stock market
a topic of dinner table conversation
THE ARIEL-NUVEEN INVESTMENT PROGRAM
With the help of investment professionals and corporate
funding from Ariel and Nuveen Investments, ACA students have the opportunity to invest real money. The
Ariel-Nuveen Investment Program teaches students the value
of investing as they learn the importance of giving back.
The first grade class at the Academy is given an endowment of $20,000 to invest in a class stock portfolio.
Through their years at the school, students watch their
initial investment grow. Upon graduation, students give
their original $20,000 investment back to the incoming
1st grade class. The remaining profit is divided in half.
One portion is donated back to the school, while the rest
is distributed among the graduates, who can opt to
receive cash or deposit their earnings into a college
savings plan with an additional $1,000 from Ariel Capital
Management, LLC.
STUDENT STOCK PICKS
Students are required to complete a stock recommendation prior to a stock purchase. The 7th and 8th
grade classes vote on stock recommendations
to gain a better understanding of the potential
investment of their portfolio. Below is a snapshot
of what students had to say.
Pulte Homes (PHM)
CLASS OF 2007 PORTFOLIO
Recommended by Jendayi Walters
Description
Symbol Quantity Price Market Value
I recommended Pulte Homes because they are the
students progress through middle school, they assume
Ariel Fund
ARGF
increasing responsibility. During the 6th grade, a Junior
Nuveen
Rittenhouse
Growth Fund
GROWING RESPONSIBILITIES
Initially, representatives from Ariel and Nuveen manage
the class portfolios for the elementary classrooms. As
Board of Directors is formed that researches potential
stocks and makes investment decisions on behalf of their
peers while the rest of the class tracks its portfolio’s per-
second-leading homebuilding company in the United
415.596 $53.85
$22,379.84
States. I believe this is a good company because they
build houses for real estate agents, who can sell the
NRGRX
325.425 $23.32
$7,588.91
houses to willing customers. They also sell Del Webb
active communities, mostly for people over the age of
Coach Inc
COH
10
$50.05
$500.50
50. I think Del Webb active communities will be a
The graduation class of 2006 made a $10,000 profit and
Apple Inc
AAPL
5
$92.91
$464.55
great thing because there are lots of people retiring
directed half of it toward a new sound system for the
Walt Disney Co
DIS
14
$34.43
$482.02
formance. This program has been quite successful.
and they are going to need someplace to live.
school. The class of 2007 made a $15,000 profit and
donated half to the school for gym and technology
improvements. Over 87% of graduating students from
both classes elected to put their profits into a college
savings plan.
Disney (DIS)
Johnson &
Johnson
JNJ
8
$63.56
$482.08
Pepsico Inc
PEP
12
$26.46
$508.48
Pulte Homes Inc PHM
15
$26.46
$396.90
everybody globally, including adults, teenagers and
$358.00
kids, from ABC to ESPN to the Disney Channel.
Cash
Recommended by Ashanti Collier
and Imani Kuykendoll
We recommended Disney because the company touches
Disney was founded in 1923. It is well known and
Total Account Value
$33,161.28
the company’s management are veterans at what they
do. The company’s revenue and net income trend
are positive.
A CLOSER LOOK
Real-world economics in every classroom
A CREATIVE APPROACH
At Ariel Community Academy, investment concepts are
woven into the curriculum. In every classroom, AEI program
coordinators collaborate with the teachers—augmenting
the standard curriculum with financial and economic
principles. For example, a seventh-grade math class might
incorporate the idea of compound interest into its
lesson while the second grader learns core economic
words such as producers, consumers, goods and services.
To help with this initiative, ACA partners with different
organizations that also promote financial literacy. For
example, the Illinois Council on Economic Education
holds an annual Economics Poster Contest. Students
illustrate their knowledge of economic principles such
as scarcity, productive resources and opportunity cost.
The contest is a great way for teachers to stimulate
interest in students by allowing them to use creativity
while learning the importance of the economy.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE CLASSROOM
EXCELLENT TEACHERS
The National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship
In the fall of 2007, Investment Curriculum Director
(NFTE) offers entrepreneurship education to low-income
Connie Moran was recognized as a Certified
communities to improve their economic productivity.
Entrepreneurship Teacher of the Year. The honor
The NFTE program trains more than 3,700 Certified
is granted by the NFTE to teachers around the
Entrepreneurship Teachers (CET) and among them are
world. Recipients were selected for their teaching
teachers from Ariel Community Academy. The NFTE
excellence and focus on bringing investment
model provides students with important lessons and tools
curriculum to the classroom. To the right, Connie
about business.
is pictured with fellow CET award recipients.
Ariel students create and implement their own business
plans through NF TE’s unique program. In an annual
business competition, they create a business plan that
includes market research and a financial forecast. This
program allows students to use their own imaginations
and interests to create individual businesses while
learning key economic skills like negotiation and pricing.
THE EXTENDED DAY PROGRAM
A child’s potential to learn does not end at
3:00 pm and neither should a school day
ARIEL EXTENDED DAY PROGRAM
Far more than just providing quality after-school care,
the Extended Day Program offers children in first through
eighth grade a safe, welcoming place from 3:00 pm to
6:30 pm. A caring, well-trained staff of teachers and
program coordinators provided by AEI helps students
with homework, and expands the scope of the investment
curriculum. The AEI program coordinators are also
offsetting the teacher/classroom size and allowing for
more one-on-one instruction. They continue to work
with many of the same students in the Program, becoming
familiar with students’ learning styles and academic needs.
MESSAGE FROM DAWN WELLES,
DIRECTOR OF THE ARIEL
EXTENDED DAY PROGRAM
In the Ariel Extended Day Program, our goal is to
expose the multiple intelligences that exist within
every child. Academically, culturally and physically,
A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES
these students are learning that an education is not
Ariel Community Academy’s students are encouraged
limited by time, but by their own imagination.
to challenge themselves and grow in ways they may
never have considered. The Extended Day Program
allows students to participate in music, dance, chess,
choir, sports and volunteer projects around the community. These and many other opportunities give students
the chance to develop socially and personally through
Thanks to the dedicated Extended Day Program
staff, students are learning before, during and after
school. Through guidance and encouragement, this
enthusiastic staff has brought a level of excitement to
the program in a way that enhances the overall culture
self-discovery — a process that leads to lifelong interests
of the school. In the 11 years I have spent with the
and skills.
Ariel Extended Day Program, I have witnessed the
students harnessing their own personal learning
style and sense of self-discovery. I have watched
students grow and mature into intelligent young
adults. As I look back at it all, I am amazed to see
the difference a few extra hours a day can make to
a student’s academic and personal success.
WORKING TOGETHER
It starts with a school and
ends with a community
VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers play an integral role in the success of the
Ariel Education Initiative. One of the most important
volunteer activities is the Saturday Morning Teacher
Corps, comprised of professionals from Ariel Capital
Management, Nuveen Investments and Lehman Brothers,
Inc. These volunteers spend two hours every Saturday
morning in the months of January, February and March
working with third- through eighth-grade students to
improve their math and writing skills and prepare them
for state-required standardized tests.
We have also welcomed a number of special visitors to
the Academy this year, such as United States Senator
Evan Bayh, Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., Illinois
State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, legendary filmmaker
George Lucas and world-renowned chef Charlie Trotter,
to share in this spirit of togetherness. These visitors
walked the halls of the Academy and demonstrated their
knowledge to the students. For example, Charlie Trotter
taught students about excellence in leadership through
his experiences in the restaurant business. He told the students to take pride in their accomplishments and expect
nothing but the best.
A SPECIAL THANKS
Lehman Brothers, Inc. has been a wonderful supporter
of the Ariel Education Initiative. Through an in-office
drive, Lehman employees provided school supplies for
both students and teachers to use. In addition, several
ARIEL COMMUNITY ACADEMY STAFF
Principal
Lennette Coleman
Curriculum Director
Dr. Judith Shelton
Extended Day
Director
Dawn Welles
Administrative
Assistant
Kathryn Madkins
Pre-kindergarten
Sabrina Jones
Cherece Moore
Extended
Pre-kindergarten
Danae Jackson
Asia Fields
Joseph Ward
Kindergarten
Monica Delgado
Shatay Bryant
Daniel Schlosser
Kimberly McLendon
employees are members of the Saturday Morning
Ariel-Nuveen
Investment Program
Connie Moran
Mariah Sheriff
First
Lauren Bryant
Ellen Hinton
Eighth
Marsha Vihon
Danielle Collins
Second
Julie Gasick
Michele Sufferdin
Primary Services
Dr. Judith Shelton
Dawn Welles
Third
Kaitlin Obenauf
Keri Scherer
Special Education
Trina Jones
Physical Education
Don Dolezal
Fourth
Margaret Hoover
Lars Johansson
Yanitsa Dones
Special Education
(Autism)
Evie Nikolau
Pearlene Burks
Robin Tabb
Athletic Director
John Moran
Fifth
Brian Goodman
Todd Oldham
Guidance Counselors
Shirley Pierce Knox
John Moran
Sixth
Douglas Brown
Brian Lacey
Math/Science
Marissa DeJesus
Seventh
Lara Koepke
Jake Sklarsky
Odell Jackson
Spanish
Yanitsa Dones
Library/Drama
Marguerite Miller
Eric Shank
Reading
Paula Hatfield
AEI Program
Coordinators
Reginald Halbert
British Hamel
Virna Holmes
Clarice Mingo
Joseph Ward
Danae Jackson
Writing
Cathy Mallare
Business Manager
Courtney Calhoun
School Clerk
Katie Lee
Teaching Corps and donate countless hours to tutoring
Engineers
Andre Crayton
Patrick Gaughan
Lehman Brothers community have been greatly
Lunchroom Staff
Lynda Griffin
John Jones
Rosie Lornax
Velma Morrison
Sandra Parker
Toni Royster
Security
Amos Perdue
Otis Temple
Custodians
Ronnette Brown
Ramana Green
Amanda Shumkin
Peter Spears
Cramer Walker
Rhonde Ward
students at the Academy. The efforts of the entire
beneficial to the success of the Academy.
RESULTS
A learning environment with inspiration
and motivation produces the best results
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Become a part of our community
Lennette Coleman
Principal
Ariel Community Academy
Arne Duncan
Communities grow stronger when everyone
CORPORATE DONORS
Chief Executive Officer
contributes. Whether you are a parent, a student, a
Ariel Capital Management, LLC
Chicago Public Schools
resident or even an interested observer, you have
Forbes, Inc.
something to offer Ariel Education Initiative and
Green Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Ariel Community Academy.
KKP Group
CONTACT US
For more information about enrolling, volunteering
or supporting our organization financially, please
contact Matthew Yale today at 312.726.0140.
Knight Foundation
Sarah Duncan
Program Coordinator
Community Schools Program
University of Chicago
Lehman Brothers Foundation
Loop Capital Markets, LLC
William Fitzgerald
Nuveen Investments
Chief Investment Officer
Pearsall Family Foundation
Managing Director
Polk Bros. Foundation
Nuveen Investments, Inc.
Ronald H. Ringer Foundation
The Chicago Community Trust
Tough Guys Charities
Dolores G. Norton, Ph.D.
Samuel Deutsch Professor
University of Chicago
We would also like to recognize our many individual
John W. Rogers, Jr.
donors for helping Ariel Education Initiative fulfill
Chairman and CEO
its mission.
Ariel Capital Management, LLC
ARIEL EDUCATION INITIATIVE STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES
Fiscal year ended
June 30, 2007
Fiscal year ended
June 30, 2006
$ 481,629
58,608
57,297
25,304
67,872
362,094
$ 1,052,804
$ 661.534
63,554
Changes in unrestricted net assets
Public support and revenues
Contributions
Donated services
Program fees
Interest and dividend income
Net gain (loss) on investments
Net assets released from time restrictions
Total public support and revenues
42,423
22,885
(5,536)
171,508
$ 956,368
Expenses
Program services
Achievers
Ariel Extended Day Program
Ariel Community Academy
Ariel-Nuveen Investment Program
Total program services
Management and general
Total expenses
81,568
$ 13,544
339,672
325,336
126,039
820,274
128,382
960,806
156,960
$ 948,656
$ 1,117,766
Increase (decrease) in unrestricted net assets
$ 104,148
$ (161,398)
Contributions
Net assets released from restrictions
$ 608,097
(362,094)
$ 264,472
(171,508)
Increase in temporarily restricted net assets
$ 246,003
$
Increase (decrease) in total net assets
$ 350,151
$ (68,434)
N/A
$ 307,438
410,578
Changes in temporarily restricted net assets
92,964
CLASS OF 2006/2007
GRADUATE UPDATES
Mia Brewer, class of 2006 and former member
of the Ariel Nuveen Junior Board of Directors,
currently attends John Hope College Preparatory
High School. Mia is on the honor roll and is a
RESULTS
Through hard work and dedication, the students, teachers
•
Eighty-eight percent of students in the class of 2006
and community behind ACA have all contributed to
and 97% in the class of 2007 successfully completed
making the following accomplishments possible:
high school algebra for a full year of credit.
•
•
team. The freshman team advanced to the quarterfinals this season, with a record of seven wins and
one loss. Mia elected to invest her share of the class
Three students from each of the 2006 and 2007
account at Ariel in a 529 college savings plan. She
Spotlight School — one of only 315 throughout the
graduating classes received four-year, private college
plans to major in sports law in college.
state of Illinois.
preparatory high-school scholarships through the
In 2006, the school was selected as an Illinois
•
Daniel Murphy Scholarship Foundation.
•
center and co-captain of the freshman basketball
Mariam Alaka, class of 2006 and former member
The Academy was awarded the Academic
of the Ariel Nuveen Junior Board of Directors,
Improvement Award based on results of the Illinois
currently attends Whitney M. Young High School.
Standards Achievement Test (ISAT).
Mariam is a straight -A student involved in the
Thirty percent of students from the graduating classes
pre-med club. Mariam hopes to expand the “Food for
of 2006 and 2007 were accepted to selective enrollment
School” business she founded while at Ariel. She also
high schools throughout Illinois and Wisconsin.
chose to invest her share of the class account in a
529 college savings plan.
Humu Issifu, class of 2007, is a freshman at King
College Prep. Humu is taking courses in Latin and
Geometry as well as participating in the school
choir. Humu is actively working to raise funds for
a hospital in her home country of Ghana. Humu
elected to invest her share of the class account at
Ariel in a 529 college savings plan. She plans to be
an entrepreneur or psychologist.
CONCEPT AND DESIGN
Wechsler Ross & Partners
New York
London
PHOTOGRAPHY
Powell Photography, Chicago, IL
ILLUSTRATION
David Day, New York, NY
PRINTING
Darwill, Hillside, IL
EDUCATION INITIATIVE 2007
200 East Randolph Drive
Suite 2900
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Tel 312.726.0140
Fax 312.726.7473
www.arieleducation.com